Christianity and Islam in Spain (756-1031) eBook

On his way to execution, when struck by one of the
bystanders on one cheek, he turned the other meekly
to the striker. He was beheaded on March 11,
859, and Leocritia four days later. Miraculous
appearances honoured the body of the martyred bishop,
which was buried in the Church of St Genesius, whence
it was translated in the next year to his own church
of St Zoilus, and in 883 was given up, together with
that of Leocritia, to Alphonso III. (866-910) by express
stipulation.

CHAPTER V.

CONTROVERSY CONCERNING THE MARTYRS.

With the death of Eulogius the series of voluntary
martyrdoms comes to an end, and it will be convenient
at this point to consider the whole question of the
relation of the Church to the civil power, and how
far those “confessors,” who were put to
death under the circumstances already related, were
entitled to the name of martyrs. Unfortunately
the evidence we have on the subject is drawn almost
entirely from the apologists of their doings, and
therefore may fairly be suspected of some bias.
Yet even from them can be shown conclusively enough
that no real persecution was raging in Mohammedan
Spain at this time, such as to justify the extreme
measures adopted by the party of zealots.

If we except the cases of John and Adulphus, and of
Nunilo and Alodia, the date of which is doubtful,
there is not a single recorded instance of a Christian
being put to death for his religion by the Arabs in
Spain before the middle of the ninth century.
The Muzarabes,[1] as the Christians living under the
Arabs were called, enjoyed a remarkable degree of
freedom in the exercise of their religion—­the
services and rites of the Church being conducted as
heretofore.[2] In Cordova alone we find mention of
the following churches:[3] the Church of St Acislus,
a former martyr of Cordova; of St Zoilus; of the Three
Martyrs—­Faustus, Januarius, Martialis; of
St Cyprian; of SS. Genesius and Eulalia; and
of the Virgin Mary.

[1] De Gayangos on Al Makk.,
i. p. 420, says the word means
“those who try to imitate
the Arabs in manners and language.”

Of the last of these there is an interesting account
in an Arab writer, who died in 1034.[1] “I once
entered at night,” he says, “into the
principal Christian Church. I found it all strewed
with green branches of myrtle, and planted with cypress
trees. The noise of the thundering bells resounded
in my ears; the glare of the innumerable lamps dazzled
my eyes; the priests, decked in rich silken robes of
gay and fanciful colours, and girt with girdle cords,
advanced to adore Jesus. Everyone of those present